macarthur31

I align with getting a playoff starter and high lev (closer 1B) relief arm as well. It's too bad Michael Soroka didn't hang around longer, cause whatever Jed/Carter saw in him it's showing out this year: 15 GS 82.0 IP 3.07 ERA, 3.95 xERA 2.94 FIP, 3.60 xFIP 18.6 K-BB% 1.09 WHIP With regards to performance, this would slot just behind Ben Brown, but well ahead of the rest on our rotation. All this for $7.5M. All this to say, if Jed/Carter sign someone and I'm like, "Huh?!" I'm gonna give 'em the benefit of the doubt.

I think I read somewhere that during his recent stint in Des Moines, he's gotten the K Rate to 25%, while maintaining the slug. (Or maybe I dreamed it?). If true, let's get him some run against some lefties.

Jaguar reports for duty! Does that mean Matt Shaw to the IL?

From my vantage point, Jed seems to be very model driven - and then when opportunity presents itself, he'll make an assertive move. For me, the Counsell signing was (and still is) great - he had an opportunity to upgrade at manager with someone who is philosophically aligned, and was proven to capably handle a clubhouse (and the serendipity that the Counsell had already a deep affinity for the franchise). It's fascinating to me that there are these gripes about $8M a year being too much - but given there's no luxury tax penalty for signing staff, I don't get why people are so hung up on the price tag. Jed isn't the perfect GM - the Cubs have not been able to develop more homegrown TOR starters beyond Cade Horton, and they've been able to produce a power bat since they let Schwarber leave. Perhaps it's oversimplification - he appears to hope to hit on more of high floor bets (where I'd put PCA for Baez) , rather than risky-ish swings (though he tried with Kyle Tucker walk year gambit, and were also-rans in the Ohtani derby). Even extension for Nico and the Bregman contract are among the largest contracts in Cub history, but seem to be "sensible"/high floorish given their high defense, line-drive hitting approach and leadership intangibles. This aside - I've seen the Cubs trend up during his term, and I look at how the Cubs farm this year seems to be producing some more names quickly as a good omen that overall the talent development pipeline is also moving in a good direction.

To your point, if you go with 2025 numbers in RISP wRC+ (296 hitters with at least 70 PAs): Seiya Suzuki, 168 in 180 PA. 15th best Nico Hoerner. 148 in 172 PA. 36th best Michael Busch. 146 in 141 PA. 41st best Ian Happ. 122 in 170 PA. 110th best Carson Kelly. 110 in 134 PA. 138th best PCA. 106 in 176 PA. 151st best Dansby Swanson. 74 in 174 PA. 249th best Matt Shaw 64 in 106 PA. 267th best I'm also confident that Seiya is closer to 168 wRC+ than 19 wRC+.

Perhaps an alternative: wRC+ with RISP, minimum 30 PA, 247 qualified batters: Suzuki, 19 in 50 PA, 14th worst Matt Shaw: 44 in 32 PA, 26th worst Alex Bregman: 48 in 62 PA, 28th worst. Ian Happ: 72 in 68 PA, 56th worst Dansby Swanson: 75 in 58 PA, 65th worst Nico Hoerner: 83 in 61 PA, 79th worst On the flipside, here's who is comin' thru: Kelly, 155 in 50 PA, 53rd best Ballesteros, 144 in 33 PA, 69th best (noice) Busch, 133 in 62 PA, 82nd best

We're already going over the tax, so at least Ray's in a walk year. He posted 32 starts last year after Tommy John Surgery in '24, so perhaps I'm overthinking the injury history. "Ray for the right price" - for sure. And perhaps that is the tier Jed's gonna end up landing when it's all said and done.

I saw SFG's rough start to the season, and it's tough math to see a path to the playoffs with the Dodgers, Padres and D'backs (shoot, even the Rockies aren't a "layup" like they used to be). Posey seems like a very decisive leader, and them doing this trade hints to me that he's ready to strip this sucker to the studs - and might that be paired with trying to reduce their payroll. (Again, unsure if this has implications, but they just sold a minority stake to a private equity firm). Devers at $30M seems to be a super albatross that I want no part of. Robbie Ray in a walk year to pay the rest of $24.3M? Nah, pass.

Am I crazy for thinking of Logan Webb as a possible front line starter trade target? $18M per year through '28. Granted he's got a knee thing right now, but he's logged 30+ starts the last 4 seasons.

Checked out Lowder's game logs - through his first 6 starts, he was at 3.10 ERA and going 5-6 IP. But, his last start against @PIT - he went 1.1 IP and allowed 8 ER, which ballooned it up to 5.09. Was that the game where PIT had 8 BB in a row, or something? (I'm guessing cause Lowder had 4 BB and his replacement, Phillips gave up 4 BB without getting an out.)

Haven't watched alot of Reds ball, but after seeing them last night - they just seem young and hungry. Tito's the right skipper for them, and I intuit that they're gonna learn alot together. They could grab a wildcard spot. Suarez seems like a terrific veteran anchor for all the youth, but they need 1-2 more of his ilk. I was impressed by the hard contact they were making - Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz are gonna be a problem, man. However, in terms of 2026 - they seem like a season away.

Conforto got you covered, my guy.

Great googly moogly, this is suboptimal for Skubal and the Tigers.

Nice call, @Jason Ross on calling PCA's HR during the podcast earlier in the day. (Won't dock you points as you predicted it'd be off Buehler). I was super pleased when PCA drew a lefty on lefty walk in his previous AB, and seeing him deliver in such a high leverage spot confirms that he's trending in the right direction.